Emerging partnerships are key to the IE’s promising future

By Phil Cothran, Chairman, San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board

Developing partnerships are helping to establish a new
roadmap for the Inland Empire as we boldly embrace a future of economic
opportunity and prosperity.

Robust, cross-sector initiatives such as Inland Economic
Growth & Opportunity (IEGO), Inland California Rising and Regions Rise
Together are demonstrating the power of collaboration and shared visioning when
it comes to promoting business growth and developing a next-generation
workforce.

More locally, efforts such as the Fontana Mayor’s Education Coalition
are reinventing how schools, businesses and the public sector can work together
to build stronger, more prosperous communities.

Local Advertisement

Add it up, and the IE is clearly poised to fulfill its
promise as one of the country’s fastest-growing population and economic
centers.

But it’s how we’re doing it that stands out – recognizing that
our collective might is far greater than the sum of our parts.

At the recent Regions Rise Together launch event at Cal
State San Bernardino, members of our San Bernardino County Workforce
Development Board (WDB) team worked side-by-side with stakeholders from
throughout the IE and the governor’s office to discuss proactive steps we can
take as a region to maximize the opportunities ahead of us.

Similar discussions are taking place with IEGO – a
cross-sector collaboration committed to attracting more middle-class employment
opportunities– and Inland California Rising – a developing partnership between
stakeholders in the IE and Central Valley to seed broader regional
opportunities.

Among the recurring themes in all of these efforts: The
Inland Empire will continue to experience significant population growth in the
years ahead, which is attractive to businesses looking to build or expand their
workforce. We’re also a young community – more than 25% of our population is
under the age of 18. It’s incumbent upon us to prepare that next-generation workforce
for emerging career opportunities.

Again, partnerships are the key.

In San Bernardino County, initiatives such as
Vision2Succeed, the Workforce Roadmap and GenerationGo! are establishing the
framework for aligning our workforce and economic development efforts. Through
GenGo!’s career pathways program, students are getting hands-on learning
opportunities, internships and apprenticeships at local businesses. If scaled,
this model could help tens of thousands of high school students in our county
alone get the initial skills training and workplace knowledge they need to get
that first real job.

The Fontana Mayor’s Education Coalition is built on the same
foundation, and is already producing tangible results, such as a newly launched
program that is teaching high school students workplace skills ranging from
interviewing to dressing for success to conflict resolution. The weekend
classes are taught by business owners, who are gladly offering their time and
expertise to give young people a preview of what will be expected of them when
they get a job.

For those of us who couldn’t imagine being anywhere else, it’s incredibly encouraging to see these efforts come together the way they have. Together, we’re building that workforce of the future … today.

Phil Cothran is chairman of the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board. The WDB strives to strengthen the skills of the county’s workforce through partnerships with business, education and community-based organizations. The WDB offers a variety of programs designed to help youth and adults identify career pathways and get the appropriate training and skills. Learn more about the work of the WDB by visiting http://wp.sbcounty.gov/workforce/.